Australian airlines increase direct flights to Phuket this year

Pacific Blue, the international airline of Virgin Blue, confirmed to Phuketindex.com today in a trade release that it will start “an additional service from Perth to Phuket. This means that guests from the west can now fly direct to Phuket 3 times per week. Flights depart Perth on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1030hrs and arrive in Phuket at 1620hrs.”

Such a convenient schedule will ensure that with Pacific Blue, their passengers will be “checked in to their hotel and enjoying the tropical sunset at happy hour (a perfect start to an ‘island getaway’).

For those that must reluctantly return home, the flights depart Phuket on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays departing at 1240hrs and arrive in Perth at 2010hrs.”

On board passengers can expect “that same level of service and comfort we are famous for. For those wanting to start their holiday in the perfect frame of mind, Pacific Blue offers Premium Economy with two abreast seating, complimentary food and beverage and live-to-air in-flight entertainment. These flights also accrue points on our award winning rewards program Velocity. Phuket, three times per week with Pacific Blue, ‘it’s a baht time’!”

TTGTravelHub.Net also stated that “In less than a year of operating direct Australia-Phuket flights, V Australia and Pacific Blue are already increasing their frequencies from five to seven flights per week. From August 19, low-cost carrier Pacific Blue will raise Perth-Phuket frequency from two to three flights per week. It launched the service on November 14 last year.

From December 20, its sister boutique airline V Australia will increase the Melbourne-Phuket service from one to two flights per week. It inaugurated the flight on December 4 last year.

The frequency of V Australia’s twice-weekly Brisbane-Phuket service, launched on November 29 last year, will remain unchanged.

Raymond Honings, managing director of LTU Asia, the airlines’ GSA in Thailand, said the five existing flights had been enjoying an average load factor of more than 90 per cent to full house from their inauguration dates.”

Phuketindex agrees this is good news for Phuket’s tourism industry considering there were some earlier reports that these airlines might cut back their direct routes to Phuket. Somboon Jirayus, President of Phuket Tourist Association had told Phuketindex in June: “We haven’t heard that but some reports say they may increase flights; they are happy with flights; Thai Airways in Australia also want to make direct flights twice a week from Sydney to Phuket.”

Both airlines also joined local hotels Novotel in Patong and Indigo Pearl in Nai Yang, raising considerable funds for local children charities, earlier this year.